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| Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) concept art by Robert McCall |
Every Friday, I feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979).
The designs of the alien entity, known as V'Ger, were difficult but one illustrator who contributed to the design was space artist Robert McCall. H. Lester Cooke, National Gallery of Art curator, said Mr. McCall had "the quality and scope of imagination to travel in space, and carry us along with him." Noted science fiction writer Isaac Asimov called Mr. McCall "the nearest thing we have to an artist in residence in outer space."
Robert Theodore McCall was a professional illustrator who worked on Hollywood classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and The Black Hole (1979).
Check out the rest of the images after the jump (click to enlarge).
Here are some scenes from the movie.
Here are illustrations of V'Ger along with one of a Klingon Cruiser.
See more of Robert McCall's work at www.mccallstudios.com
McCall died in 2010 and you can read a touching memorial for him by artist Johnny Eaves on his blog.
Click on the links if you want to see more of Robert McCall's work and Star Trek: The Motion Picture on my blog.
Some illustrations via GavinRothery.com, Memory Alpha and ottens.co.uk
What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen Star Trek: The Motion Picture what did you think?
Official Star Trek: The Motion Picture Synopsis
"Kirk and his former crew reunite aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 to save Earth from a powerful living machine that is destroying everything in its path as it searches for its 'creator.' When we last saw this crew, at the end of the original Star Trek’s third season, the year was 2269. It is now 2271. Upon completion of his five-year mission, Kirk apparently accepted a well-deserved promotion to admiral, but he’s been having second thoughts about that decision. He feels he’s more suited to sitting in the captain’s chair aboard a starship than sitting behind a desk at Starfleet Headquarters. In the meantime, Spock has returned to his Vulcan homeworld to go through a ritual that will purge him of his emotions once and for all. Doctor McCoy has retired from active service. Chekov has changed his specialty, from navigation to ship’s security. Scotty, Uhura and Sulu continue to hold their familiar posts on the Enterprise. The ship itself, however, has gone through a major refit, with upgrades throughout."
Directed by Robert Wise
Cinematography by Richard H. Kline
Production Design by Harold Michelson
Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Persis Khambatta, Stephen Collins
Release date: December 7, 1979
Official Site: startrek.com/page/star-trek-the-motion-picture
© Copyright 1979 Paramount Pictures. All rights reservedFollow @filmsketchr
I've only seen the first movie once and it was oh, so long ago. I do remember being a lot more impressed by the visuals than by the story. McCall's art is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend,
Squid
I champion ST-TMP (Bob Wise's director's cut) as equal first with Khan as the two greatest Trek films ever, but this one really is the only truly cinematic Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteIt's also the only SF movie I can think of that takes full advantage of Robert McCall's beautiful design aesthetic (although Oblivion channels him).
TMP actually looks like a moving McCall painting.
Thanks for sharing these rare images!